On Aug. 3, the Country Club of the Crystal Coast will open its doors to the general public for its first artisan showcase.

“I’ve seen the work and the level of talent is very good,” said Co-Chair of the House Committee at the Crystal Coast Country Club Cindy Moeller.

Moeller, who put the show together, said she enjoyed works displayed at other local artisan shows, such as the Emerald Isle St. Patrick’s Day Festival and Carteret County Arts & Crafts Coalition Spring Show.

She began soliciting artists from those shows hoping they would want to display their work at the country club.

“First and foremost, we want to provide a venue for local artists that may not do a lot of shows,” said Moeller.

One of those artists is fantasy photographer and photo manipulator, Alan Welch. Welch’s brand of photography stems from his love of the strange and the sea, the latter of which has led him to take up residence in a boat across the Neuse River.

“Living on a sailboat was a lifelong dream,” said Welch. “Now that I’m retired, I can indulge in what I want to do.”

Welch said indulging in his artistic desires was seldom on the agenda during his 19 years in marketing and advertising with Duke University, also as a photographer.

Welch said he has long been an admirer of the work of Frank Rosetta, known for his work on fantasy novel covers, including Conan the Barbarian series. Welch learned more about fantasy photography in the 1980s, and found the photo manipulation it took to create what he wanted was reserved for a special set.

“You needed a Hollywood budget to do that back then,” said Welch.

He became a “frustrated artist,” dabbling in paint and sketching for several years. He found the Adobe’s Photoshop program in the 1990s and could finally have way to get his art out through technology.

“I can do what I want now,” said Welch. “This is the most satisfying experience I’ve ever had.”

Welch says his work is mostly displayed at science fiction and fantasy conventions, but he hopes to do more mainstream art shows, including the artisan show.

“Seventy-five percent of my stuff (at the show) will be nautical in nature,” said Welch. “Some of my fantasy stuff will be there, as well as my greeting cards, but it will be mostly nautical.”

The nautical nature of the region also drew Don and Laura Saddlemire, weathervane makers out of Sneads Ferry, from the hilly and busy Washington, D.C. area in 2004. The Saddlemire’s started making weathervanes in 2006 as a wedding gift, gradually developing a business until it officially launched in 2009.

Page 2 of 2 - “My husband has always been fascinated by weathervanes since he grew up on a farm (in upstate New York) and weather was a very important to him,” said Saddlemire.

The Saddlemire’s work as a team on each of their creations. Laura designs them and Don creates each weathervane by hand. The Saddlemire’s primarily make their weathervanes out of brass, a sturdy material that can withstand the elements in a coastal area and don’t need constant polishing; especially clients are looking for an aged look.

“Copper doesn’t rust, but if you don’t polish it, it can turn green, like the Statue of Liberty,” said Saddlemire. “They’re beautiful and they’re functional.”

The Saddlemire’s say they often show off their wears at artisan shows around the area. The couple is ready to show their work at the country club and offer custom made weathervanes to the public.

“We do a lot of custom ones, which is fun because we’re doing something different each time,” said Saddlemire.

The show will begin at 9 a.m. and will feature nearly 40 artists, a figure that went beyond Moeller’s expectations.

“We had to start turning artists away,” said Moeller. “I anticipate this is something that will be ongoing.”

Christopher Thomas is a staff writer for the Jacksonville Daily News. To contact him, call 910-219-8473 or e-mail him at christopher.thomas@jdnews.com.

Want to go?

Crystal Coast Artisan Show will be held at the Country Club of the Crystal Coast in Pine Knoll Shores on Aug. 3. The show is free and open to the public and will start at 9 a.m. For more information, call the country club at 252-726-1034.